1971 4x4 Suburban Project - the 'Family Adventure Wagon'

[ManNamedJed]

1967 Chevy short box step side peeking out under the cover. It has about 80k original miles with a 250 six. He did the garage paintjob. Also random parts that are scattered about.

[Ol Blue K20]

Does he want to adopt me?

[ManNamedJed]

Making progress....
Clutch is in, linkage hooked up, transmission is in.

Thought I had a one piece rear main seal engine as it was replaced in the 90s, but turned out to be 2 piece, so had to return the new flywheel.

Ordered a mount for a Dodge pickup with a NV4500 and it didn't line up at all to the mount on the trans. Ordered the Chevy one and same thing, so we are fabbing our own from some 2" square stock and the original crossmember mounts.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by ManNamedJed

Making progress....
Clutch is in, linkage hooked up, transmission is in.

Thought I had a one piece rear main seal engine as it was replaced in the 90s, but turned out to be 2 piece, so had to return the new flywheel.

Ordered a mount for a Dodge pickup with a NV4500 and it didn't line up at all to the mount on the trans. Ordered the Chevy one and same thing, so we are fabbing our own from some 2" square stock and the original crossmember mounts.

I would have to double check but if I remember correctly I used a stock GM TH350 or TH400 transmission mount.

LockDoc

[ManNamedJed]

Transmission and transfer case fully mounted.

Had to really mangle the exhaust to get it to fit. Once I get it driving I'll have to get that sorted.

[ManNamedJed]

The trans had a boss on the side that we drilled and tapped to mount the transfer case linkage. Worked out well.

Also installed a pinion guard as I plan for this to actually go off road and I had the yoke off anyways to convert to 1410 u joint.

[ManNamedJed]

Transmission hump reworked.

[HO455]

Nice work. It is going to be great.

[ManNamedJed]

Well its been a long time since I posted an update!

Last summer was crazy. My wife's uncle lost his home in a wildfire, and we took him in while he sorted things out. Other relatives were evacuated for about a month. We actually bought some property that belonged to another relative - it closed on a Thursday and the whole area was evacuated on Tuesday. So for about a month we thought we'd just blown all our savings on a bunch of ashes.

Thankfully the evacuated relatives and our new property didn't burn. But it was freaking hot and smoky here for months. It really sucked.

So those are my excuses for not working on the suburban in a long time.

I had hoped this weekend would allow me to make a triumphant post with the carpet installed, seats back in, and the NV4500 shifter boot installed.

However, it seems I got 2wd 'low hump' carpet. I was aware of the differences, and was sure to order the 4WD carpet on RockAuto. I double checked my order even.

Sooo... it doesn't fit. And of course I had to make holes for shifters and trim the back a bit before I realized. I emailed ACC and hopefully they will take care of me. But its been over 6 months since purchase, and its been altered, so I don't if they will be willing to help.

[Madkidd007]

Originally Posted by ManNamedJed

Well its been a long time since I posted an update!

Last summer was crazy. My wife's uncle lost his home in a wildfire, and we took him in while he sorted things out. Other relatives were evacuated for about a month. We actually bought some property that belonged to another relative - it closed on a Thursday and the whole area was evacuated on Tuesday. So for about a month we thought we'd just blown all our savings on a bunch of ashes.

Thankfully the evacuated relatives and our new property didn't burn. But it was freaking hot and smoky here for months. It really sucked.

So those are my excuses for not working on the suburban in a long time.

I had hoped this weekend would allow me to make a triumphant post with the carpet installed, seats back in, and the NV4500 shifter boot installed.

However, it seems I got 2wd 'low hump' carpet. I was aware of the differences, and was sure to order the 4WD carpet on RockAuto. I double checked my order even.

Sooo... it doesn't fit. And of course I had to make holes for shifters and trim the back a bit before I realized. I emailed ACC and hopefully they will take care of me. But its been over 6 months since purchase, and its been altered, so I don't if they will be willing to help.

If they don’t take care of you, slice it right up the middle and then put a console in the floor with cup holders.

[ManNamedJed]

Well RockAuto says it is under warranty, but are making me pay to ship it back. I hope there is no drama when I send back just the front portion and they realize its been trimmed.